The Fab Floor Cloth

One of the most frequent questions we get is about our floor cloths.  We think they are a unique and fun way to display and use special fabrics.  Debbie makes a new one every year for the MN Shop Hop.  We keep it on the floor right in front of our cash register counter, a place that gets lots of traffic.  It gets walked on all the time, and lasts through wet shoes, sandy shoes, slushy shoes and salty shoes.

We've shared the instructions on this blog before so I will reprint them here.  We also hand out those instructions to anyone in the store who is interested.  You can make your own floor cloth to the size that you want, from big all the way down to coaster size!  The multi-purpose cloth (by Roclon) that is the foundation for our floor cloths is 54" wide. That would be the max width of a floor cloth but the length could be longer than that because we buy it on a roll and sell it by the yard.

If you are planning to make your own floor cloth, the usual size container of Mod Podge is not enough.  You are better off to watch for it on sale at a craft store and buy the big container.

Mod Podge Floor Cloth

Supplies:

 Mod Podge   
Fine grit sandpaper or steel wool    
Multi Purpose Cloth    
Fabric for the front and back

   Foam Brush   

Plastic Drop Cloth to protect work surface

Directions:

1.  Cut the main fabric and the backing one inch larger than the desired finished size of the floor cloth.

2.  Cut the Multi Purpose Cloth to the desired finished size.

3.  Apply Mod Podge to one side of the Multi Purpose Cloth. 

Immediately attach backing fabric to the Mod Podged surface, smoothing out wrinkles and bubbles.

4.  Apply Mod Podge to the backing fabric.  Let dry 1-2 hours.

5.  Trim backing fabric even with the Multi Purpose Cloth. Use your rotary cutter for an even trim.

6.  Turn the floor cloth over and apply Mod Podge to the other side of the floor cloth.  Center the main fabric on the floor cloth so that you will have fabric to wrap to the wrong side of the cloth.  Smooth out wrinkles and bubbles. Let dry.

7.  Sand lightly with steel wool or fine grit sand paper, if desired.

8.  Repeat so that you have 4-5 layers of Mod Podge on the front and 3-4 layers on the back, sanding between coats.

9.  Wrap excess front fabric to the back side and apply Mod Podge under the fabric to hold it to the floor cloth and over the fabric so that it will also be finished.  If desired, Mod Podge one inch strips of fabric  to cover the raw edges of the wrap around fabric for a more finished look.

10.  Apply Mod Podge to the back side one more time.

You can get as creative as you want with fabrics in assorted colors, shapes and sizes.  You can make it look like quilt blocks, or a collage, or a Van Gogh!

Quilt MN Shop Hop Ends for 2016

The Hop might be over, but there's still fabric to claim for your own!  On the final day of the Quilt Minnesota Shop Hop, these are the bolts we have remaining--

Still several to choose from.  As we've heard from many visitors, we are out of some of the same things that many shops are.  Namely:  Brown and Orange texture lines, turquoise dots, multi-colored theme stripe, colored fish and mosquitos.  Not a single mosquito left in the store!  You would think maybe the Mosquito Control people had visited Bear Patch!

Also, we still have 5" and 10" square packs remaining.

Since the shop hop rules explicitly state that the fabric group cannot be sold at a reduced price for 1 year after the shop hop, we have been holding onto some of the 2015 fabrics!  Starting today, whatever we have left is marked down to $7/yard and 5" square packs also $7 each.  Here's your chance to pick up some good deals on those fabrics!  As a reminder, here's what the theme fabric looked like last year.  Still very charming!

Are you wondering what 2017 will look like?  So are we!

We still have the Row By Row Experience continuing, with your free pattern available for the asking, through September 6.  We still have kits available for our row, too, in 2 colorways.  Shown below is the funky fabric colorway, and the other is black/white with primary colors.  These happy houses are paper pieced, and designed by Mary of MH Designs.  She's a master at paper piecing, so you know this pattern is done right!  She's also a loyal friend of Bear Patch, and we so appreciate her talent.

During our Row By Row period, because it is a national endeavor, we have a big map and ask people to pin their home location.  We have so many pins!

  

But here's the deal--we need a few more states to show up!  We need:  West Virginia, Delaware, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Louisiana, Maine, Vermont and New Mexico.  If you live in one of those states, we need you and you still have time to plan a trip to Bear Patch, so come on down!  You will make our map complete!

Twin Cities Shop Hop 2016

It's nearly May, so it must be time for Shop Hop, right?  Shop Hops in some parts of the country can happen all year round because they don't have to deal with winter weather and road conditions.  However, here in the tundra, we experience a big black Shop Hop hole over the winter.  Now that the weather is turning nice again, we have Shop Hoppers coming out of hibernation all over the place!

The annual Twin Cities Shop Hop started yesterday, April 28.  It runs through today and all day Saturday (4/30).  We are open 9-9 today (Friday) and 9-5 tomorrow.  We had such a great time yesterday, so many people visiting the store!  Everyone gets a little sample of a solid color from each store on the tour.  Our color is pink!  Laurel has designed and written directions for a pillow cover to help you use those solids!  Free for everyone with a passport.

Visitors also get a chance to draw for a door prize, and we had quite a few lucky winners yesterday!  You get to participate by having your passport stamped.  There's no charge for a passport!  But just don't try using it on your next trip over the border!

We are featuring a new ruler, the Corner Pop, for the Shop Hop by enlisting Laurel's great teaching skills to present ongoing demonstrations on how to use it.  She has samples made of 3 quilts that she made with the Corner Pop.

Laurel is so happy to have the chance to demonstrate the things that the
Corner Pop ruler can do for you!

This is one of 2 quilts by Me & My Sister that Laurel made with the Corner Pop ruler.
She explains how to bring the ruler into good use in patterns that
don't specifically call for the specialty ruler, just like this one.

The same pattern for the "jars on a shelf" quilt includes the directions
for the "spools on a shelf" quilt!  And better yet, just 1 charm pack of 5" squares
was needed for the pretty colored fabrics in both quilts!

But what if you can't make it in for the demo, but want to know what this ruler is all about?  Well, Deb Tucker, the brains behind the ruler, has an instructive video for you!

Partnered with the Shop Hop, we are collecting pillowcases for kids that will be donated to

  "Cases For Smiles" (formerly ConKerr Cancer).  For every pillowcase donated 

before 5PM Saturday, the maker's name is entered into a drawing for a new sewing machine, 

a Janome 7330 donated by Valley West Sewing.  

So you still have time to make up some cute pillowcases to help out some sweet kids!

And yet another feature for our Shop Hop visitors!  Local designer, world renowned and multi-talented Terry Atkinson has loaned us some samples for her 2 newest patterns, due to be released in the very near future!  You can be one of the first to own the patterns if you pre-order with us!

Marching Band by Atkinson Designs

  Bubbly Bags by Atkinson Designs.  
See those cute colored handles?  

Two more hot-off-the-press features:

Spring 2016 Block Magazine

The Trendy Table by Heather Peterson

And, of course, we have coffee, tea, bottled water, cookies and bars all waiting for you!  We feel a responsibility to keep you hydrated and fed with all of this work of Shop Hopping!

So hop on over to Bear Patch and join the fun!

Shop Hop Samples

I have badly neglected our store blog, there's really no excuse other than life lately has been like a merry-go-round on a roller coaster!

Our very special employees really brought out their best and created 30+ samples using the Quilt MN fabric!  There are a lot of pictures here, so  

"Set a spell. Take your shoes off. 

                                                        Y'all come back now, y'hear?"

And now you'll have the Beverly Hillbillies earworm all day!

These samples will remain on display after Shop Hop ends, so you have time to see them for yourself.  Patterns and available kits, too.

Zippy Strippy bags by Atkinson Designs.
Linda added the silver buttons and beads on the zipper pull to really give it that extra little something!

Fat Quarter Pop Up by Fat Quarter Gypsy
Look for this class on the upcoming schedule!

Micro Safe Hot Holders by Indygo Junction
I need these!

Loon Pillow by MH Designs for Bear Patch Quilting Co.
Kits available!

Honeycomb Zipper Pouch by V and Co.
Laurel just taught a class on these bags, a neat fabric manipulation technique that you can do!

This is the Connections Tablerunner by Emmaline Design (that's me!)
The lap quilt was pictured in an earlier post and the pattern contains 6 sizes from tablerunner to queen.
I'm just about done with the baby quilt size.  I think a few kits remain for both this and the lap quilt.

Showy Lady's-Slipper by MH Designs for Bear Patch Quilting Co.
This embroidery design was created for an earlier Shop Hop, and when one of this year's prints was a mass of lady's slippers, Mary updated the pattern for a new look.  Complete pattern or an update to the earlier pattern are available.

Minnesota Lady's Slipper by Tracy Trevethan, exclusive design with custom hand-dyed wool just for Bear Patch!
 Tracy did beautiful work, and kits are available.

Triangle Frenzy Swirl by Bunnie Cleland
Use your 60 degree triangle ruler and any border print to make your own!

Tablerunner from Dress Your Table 2 from the Thangles people.
This pattern is one of 3 in the collection, along with the paper triangles to make it.

Sassy Strips by Pieced Tree Patterns, Val made and quilted this and it is one of the favorites!

Jelly Jive by Pieced Tree Patterns
This pattern might be our favorite jelly roll pattern.  I've made it 3 times!
Uses 42 strips + binding + backing.

Bow Tucks Tote, and old favorite

Prints Charming On The Go by Stitchin' Sisters
You know we love just about anything involving hexagons, so this was a no-brainer for display!

Ebb Tide by Villa Rosa Designs
Quick to make with big blocks.

Cabin in the Woods, another exclusive design by Tracey Trevethan.
She dies the wool herself, kits are available.

Ditty Bag by Patterns By Annie
Uses Soft & Stable for form.

Snap Tech by Stitchin' Sisters
Use metal carpenter's tape to make the top snap shut, and screening to help see what's inside there.
Perfect for cords, cameras, mouse, M&M's, etc.
Just checking if you are paying attention!  I would need a bigger bag!

Zippy Bag by Jen Fox Studios
Such a neat and professional looking bag, zippers all around!

Mom and Me Aprons by Atkinson Designs
Sizes for kids and adults, PLUS a chenille hotpad!
Who could ask for anything more?!

Eye Spy Case by Stitchin' Sisters
Keep those spectacles in a safe place, we know we can never find them when we need them!

Cell Phone Wallet
Kit includes the hardware.

I have misplaced the name for this tablerunner, I'll be back with more information!

Cranberry Chutney by Madison Cottage Designs
Uses a pile o' fat quarters, and we have many to choose from!

The Temptations

It's time to start tempting you with our Quilt MN projects!  We have numerous samples in the works that highlight the possibilities with this group of fabric.  Here are a couple for starters:

Mary of MH Designs has 2 embroidery designs that are pure Minnesota (even though she lives across the river in Wisconsin!).  The Lady's Slipper is a makeover of a previous design, now using the fabric that is printed all over with the flowers.  A perfect combo!  

And since there are loons on some of the prints, she went to the drawing board and created a picture for embroidery for the loon lovers!  This one even has the little baby loon on the back of the adult, and this is exactly how they take care of their little ones.  I've been reading up on the loons, and found out that the baby loons have poor body temp control, and because the northern lakes tend to stay quite cold, they get heat from the mother or father by riding on their back in between swims.  Other loon trivia:  they don't necessarily mate for life, but they do usually migrate back to the same lake; they have only 1 or 2 eggs each year; survival rate of the chicks is 0.7 chicks per adult pair per year.  Anyone who has heard the wail of the loon echoing across a still lake knows that it is a special experience.  There are some recordings of their various calls on the wikipedia site in the link above.

I have succeeded in getting all of the blocks for my new quilt design sewn together and borders attached!  Yeah!  Now to get that quilting and binding done, write the directions and get some patterns printed!  This is a pretty simple block, very achievable for anyone who wants to give it a try.  I will include a class for it on the fall schedule.  The borders are mitered to get the best effect from the printed fabric, and the technique really isn't intimidating.  But for anyone who doesn't feel up to the challenge, I will include tips on making the border without miters.  I have several different size quilts that can be made like this, so it can go anywhere from a tablerunner to a queen size bed.

Some of the Quilt MN Shop Hop "swag" this year--

shopping bag, t-shirt and pins are all available.

More projects will be shared with you as I collect pictures from our sample makers.  Many of them will be available in kits, so you can pre-order (call 651-429-1039) the kits or yardage or pre-cut packs (5" squares, 10" squares, 2 1/2" strips) anytime you want, and they will be ready for pickup when the Hop starts July 31.  It will be a fun time at the Patch!

Row by Row Shop Hop Exclusive Keepsakes!

 The Row By Row Shop Hop starts across the nation in just a few days.  The official start date is Sunday, 6/21, but since that is Father's Day we will not be open.  We will kick off on Monday AM at 9:00.  Our pattern, designed by Laurel, is called Walleye Chop.  It fits in well with the "Water" theme.  The pattern is our gift to you, but you must be physically present in the store to claim it.  That is part of the Row by Row Book of Law for all shops.  Kits are available for purchase if you want the same fabrics that were used in our sample.  They are packaged in this nice little zipper bag.

And in case you aren't familiar with what Walleye Chop means, I have to tell you that it's not some kind of chopped fish meal!  It's a reference to the somewhat choppy waters on a lake that are favorable for catching walleyes, quite possibly the best fish to come out of a Minnesota lake!

If you are traveling to Minnesota from another state, try to find a place that serves some good walleye.  I had a great walleye meal at Gluek's Brewery in downtown Minneapolis before a Twins' game, it's real close to the stadium, so you could have walleye and a Twins game all at once!  Anyway, back to the Shop Hop!

We have some Row By Row souvenir pins, and a special acrylic ruler that is a very handy size (you might want more than 1, so get yours soon!).  And tshirts and caps will be on hand very soon, so you can be fully outfitted in proper Row by Row attire!

Of course, we have the official Row by Row fabric on hand--

I have to say that for me, personally, these prints are so much more appealing than last year's.  They would go so well with the fabrics in our row!

And finally, our license plate!  Our order for these plates is still being printed, and we will need to take orders for them so they can be mailed out once the shipment arrives.  I think the slogan says it all!  Happy stitchin' to all of you, and enjoy the Row by Row Shop Hop!

The Row by Row Experience

Do you know about the nationwide quilt shop hop?  It's called the Row By Row Experience and runs from June 21 to September 8.  It is an organization of shops from all 50 states and Canada, too, that have signed up to participate.  As a participating shop, we have created our unique row design, only available when you come to Bear Patch.  The pattern is free, one per customer.  We will also have kits available to purchase for our row.  The goal is to collect the patterns and create your own quilt of at least 8 different rows.  There are prizes for winners who bring their completed quilt to a participating shop.  All of those details are explained on the Row By Row website, as well as a directory of shops.

Another fun feature of this experience is the chance to collect fabric vanity license plates from each of the stores.  Can't wait to see what all of the fun quips on the plates will be!  

Our regular summer store hours will apply:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9am-9pm
Thursday*, Friday, Saturday  9am-5pm
Sunday 12 noon-4pm

*After July 30 we will return to our usual 9-9 Thursday hours.

Call 651-429-1039 to sign up!